Spinner



Aug. 31, 1943. E. B. BENSON SPINNER Filed Dec. 50, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fdn g d 6/750 BY ATToRNY Aug. 31, 1943'. v g, B, BENSON SPINNER Filed Dec. 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fin/and 5. 56/750 BY 0Z2 ATTO EY Patented Aug. 31, 1943 d a SPINNER a Edward BilBensonfKansas CityilVIoQ, assignor 'to The Bensonmanulacturing Company, Kansas Gay, -Mo. ,-aem-p tion ofMissonri imam so, r940, Serial No. $12,224

, a maximum :rela'tes to ian sp'inner particularly. to aizspmner constrnction for use with rthehead one, variable pitchlairplane inro- "a :Thelhousingifor the'vaniable mechanism pi a :oontrollable. pitch airplane propelleris built utility andnot for StITGflIXlvliDGd shap 1, It has been necessary, in theinterests of theprim cmles of aerodynamics, to cover the headpor- 12km of the propeller with-a ispinner cone fair-ed 'h-ho the sheathing and ,properly stream-lined.

The problem of mounting the Spinner in la inana diertogive quick {and rfacile access to all f the.

-oarts of the head-for the ,purpose of adjusting pitch of the propeller or the mechanism eon- -trolling1the pitch, has been a difllcult one. .Heretofore, the methods of attaching the spinners have been such that considerable time has been consumed inremoving and replacing them,

One object oi my; invention is to provide a one-piece spinnerwhich may be quickly 6 (o1; Ito-r59) hand'mlore v propeller, hub carries propeller blades I. -A 'd'iaphragm S 'is secured to the hub by/means omio'lts '6; Another diaphragm'1is secured to up huh by means of bolts-:8 and a nub flange is. T-he" bolts 8 also secure a dished diaphragm Lil-to fthe hub l. ening holes the diaplnagm I is provided lightening holes ll; while the diaph-rag' m Al is and easily attached and detached mm its: posi- 1 Another objectoi myinvention is to provide a "spinnerwhich is symmetrical in shape, light in weight, and H which may be accurately positioned tion covering thevariable pitch propeller mechhub and to stream-linethesaine.

Other and further objects of my'inven'tion wiil 1appear from the following description.

j In the accompanying drawings which form 7 upon the propellerghub to protect thepropeller of the instant specificationand are to he read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

t Figure 1" isja sectionalelevation showing one einbodiinent of my invention.

2-1 off Figure 1. s

a Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken theline3 3 of Figurel. I

- 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on

an enlarged scaleftakeh along the'line of Figur 5 is a fragmentarysectional view on an enlarged scale/taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2. V V

' Figures isafragmentary sectionalview, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 6-6 of r'lgu'refz, showing the locking means;

' The propeller hub proper If, is secured to the "crank shaft of the engine, thecrankcase 2710i 5 :iv hich appears jthedflwirigs. Controllable "pltchmechanismismounted in a housingi. The

. i mor 2 is a sectional view,ta'ken on the line provided; with lightening holes l2.

The periphery of the diaphragm 5 is formed with adlang'e -13. :A flange M istformedH-at the peripheryaf V "the diaphragm 1. 1 A1ilange' l5 tisformed atthe periphery "of the' diaphragm 9. "streamdined sheathing fl-"m riveted, or Otherwise secured, to the dl'aphragms 5, Lauri-9; as can readilyb xseen by reference to Figure 1.1 The sheathing H is "provided with apertures 1-8 through which the propeller. blades 74 pass. Stream-lined swing shields 19 are secured to the sheathing tlsamund each of the apertures. The structur hjus't described is more or less permanent, that 'isvyit'hneed not be removed to obtain access tothe variable "pitch propeller mechanismcf the hubgbutimay "be considered as being the base of the spinnezgiif desired. The spinnerlcone lprcperi's designate'd by'the reference numeral 20 and iszso shaped that it abuts against'the base attire-spinnersmoothly; The abutting portion of the spinner cone 20 is reinforced with a peripheral flange ll which is secured to the spinner conelz-fl by means ofrivets or many other suitable manner; wThe dished diaphragm! carries a plurality oi pins-2B,

in suitable apertures formed in the diaphragm. 7'

Each of the pins 2-8 is provided with awhead formed with an enlargement 22 and a portionof less diameter 23. Th portion423 is. ofgreetter diameter than the apertures in the diaphragm fl,

1 so that the enlarged portion 22 is always spaced from the face of the diaphragm. LThe ends-of the pins are threaded toreceive nuts 24. Be-

tween each diaphragm and nut Ilplaceaspring 25 and suitable spring washers ZS-and 21 asean "readily be seen by reference toFigure 5. V p The peripheral flange 2"! of the spinner-cone 20 is provided with an internally extending-portion 29. A .plural-ityof plates are secured-t0 the flange portion 29 in any suitable-manner, as by welding, riveting or otherwise. 5 The plates scam the flange portion are formedwithkeyholeslots I3, as can readily be seen by reference to Figure 2. The WidlGh'Of the narrow-portion c f'the slots is equalto' the' diameter of the portion 230M116 header the pin IS, Theenlarged per-trons pf the-keyhole slots-areof such size thatlthet iarge uportlonL-ifl ofthewlockingmpln--head may :pass

PATE T 915F163 V Thedia-phragm :5 is provided wan-nemacone'flange. The aperture or slot 35 is of substantially the same length as the keyhole slots. The lug 34 is threaded and adapted to receive a erence to Figure 6. A spacer member 35 is secured to the peripheral flange 2| of the spinner cone.

The parts are shown in the drawings in assembled and locked position. When it is desired to remove the spinner cone, the locking screw 31 is removed. The spinner cone is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2. This brings the enlarged portions 22 of the bolts 28, in alignment with theenlarged portions of the keyhole slots 3%. The spinner cone may then be removed by drawing it toward the mechanic.

:When it is desired to replace the spinnercone, it

locking screw 31 as can readily be seen by refportion beingformed'with openings for the passage of propeller blades, means for supporting said stationary portion from said hub, and means for supporting said removable nose'portion from. said hub in abutting streamlined relation with the stationary portion, said last'means comprising interengaging pins'and slots, mountings reciprocally supporting the pins, .andsprings urg ing'the pins into said stationary portion, said pin and slots having cam surfaces for moving th pins in a nose holding position.

2. An aircraft propeller including in combination a hub, a spinner streamlining said hub, said isbrought to a position where theenlargedportions of the keyhole slots are in alignment with' the pins.

Due tothe tapered form of the sides 32 of the keyhole slot and the spacer portion 23 of thei bolt-head, the leading edge of the tapered portions of. the slots will engage the tapered portions 330i the locking pin heads. The mechanic then rotates the spinner in a clockwise, direction. This cams the pin-heads toward the mechanic against the action of the springs 2": ,When the limit of motionis reached in the clockwise direction, the locking'lug 34 will have its threaded aperture in alignment with the opening through the'spinner cone. The locking screw 3'? may be then screwed into the locking lug 34 and the as- :sembly locked against rotation. It is to be noted that, due' to the frictional engagement between the securing pin heads and the plates 39, that the spinner cone will be held in positionby friction. The arrangement is such, Iurther, that'the :propeller rotation will tend to move the securing pins to their securing position in the, keyhole .slots.. Even without the lockingscrew Bl, the spinner cone will remain in position during flight. The locking pin, however, precludes any rota I tionalmovement tounlocking position. a

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of'my invention. I have provided a spin- 'ner for variable pitch propellers which will stream-line and protect the variable pitch propeller hub. The arrangement is such that the spinner may be quickly and expeditiously .re-

moved when it is desired. to gain access to the Variable pitch propeller mechanism or the propeller hub, for any reason. The construction is light in weight and easy or" operation.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and 1 is within the source of my claims, It is further spinner comprising a portion stationary with said hub and a removable nose portion, said stationary spinner comprising a portion stationary with said hub and a removable nose portion, said stationary portion being formed with openings for the passage of propeller blades, means for supporting said stationary portion from said hub, a diaphragm supported from said hub, said removable nose portion being formed with an inwardly directed flange having cam surfaces, and

readily releasable catch means, mountings reciprocally supporting the catch means, and

springs urging the catch means into the stationary portion, the catch means being movable onto said cam surfacesand into frictional engagement therewith for securing said fiange tosaid diaphragm. f

3. An aircraft propeller including in combination a hub, a spinner streamlining said hub,

said spinner comprising :a portion stationary with said hub and-a removable nose portion, said stationary portion being formed with openingsfor the passage of propeller blades, means for supporting said stationary portion from said hub, a diaphragm supported from said hub, said removable nose portion beingformed with an inwardly; directed flange, key-hole slot in the flange, pins siidably oarriedby the diaphragm, springs urging the pins "into the stationary portion, the pins being interengageable with theslots for readily releasably securing said nose portion to the diaphragm upon relative rotation of said nose portion, to said diaphragm, said slots having cam surfaces for. moving the pins against the action of the springs into engaging position upon such'rotation'of the nose portion. 4, An aircraft propeller including in combination a hub, a spinner streamlining said hub, said.

spinner comprising a portion stationary with said hub .and a removable nose portion, said stationary portion being formed with openings for the passage of propeller blades, means for supporting said stationary portion from said hub, a diaphragm supported from said hub, said removable nose portion being formed with an inwardly directed flange, key-hole slots in the flange, pins slidably carried by the diaphragm, springs urging the pins into the stationary portion, the pins being interengageable with the slots for readily releasably securing said nose portion to the diaphragm upon relative rotation of said nose portionto said diaphragm, said slots having cam surfaces for moving the pins against the action of the springs into engaging position upon such'rotation of the nose portion and means for preventing relative rotation between said stationary portion and said nose portion when said nose portion is secured to said diaphragm.

' 5. An aircraft propellerincluding in combination a hub, a spinner streamlining said hub, said spinner comprising a portion stationary with said hub and a removable nose portion, said stationary portion being formed with openings for the passage of propeller blades, means forsupporting said stationary portion from said hub, 9. diaphragm supported fromsaid hub, said removable nose portion being formed with an inwardly directed flange, pins, slidably positioned in said diaphragm, said flange being formed with keyhole slots, said pins being formed with heads 3 adapted to pass through the larger portions of" i said slots and toengage the metal bounding the smaller portions of said slots, and springs for urging said pins to engaging position.

:6. An aircraft propeller including in combination a hub, a spinner streamlining said hub, said spinner comprising a portion stationary with saidhub and a removable nose portion, said stationary portion being formed with openings preventing relative .rotation between said stationaryportion and said nose portion when said nose portion is secured to said diaphragm.

EDWARD B. BENSON.

, y 3 for the passage of propeller blades, meansj'for {supporting said stationary portion from said hub a, diaphragm supportedfrom; said hub, said re- 

